I arrived in Australia, like many do, with my backpack and big dreams of travelling the country, particularly the popular East coast route. After just 3 short weeks though, I had secured myself a job to boost my travelling fund. The only problem was that it was in an isolated area of Far North Queensland called Cape York, specifically the Iron Range National Park.
The Iron Range is located about 850km north of Cairns and is only accessible by road during the dry season. Once the wet season hits the rivers flood and the roads become impassable with the only way in or out a flight on a 20 seater plane from a tiny indigenous community called Lockhart River.
With the lush tropical rainforest on one side and the some of the last untouched stretches of the Great Barrier Reef on the other, the area is the perfect isolated tropical paradise. The National Park is so isolated that not many tourists make the trip but it’s a world famous area for bird watching, with some of Australia’s rarest native species calling it home. The historic township of Portland Roads even has a small adventure tours company (Cape York Experience) where you can organise a charter boat to snorkel or dive the coral reef.
If adrenaline is more your thing, there are 4wd tracks rough enough to test even the most experienced of drivers. Or, if you prefer a quieter trip, there are numerous hiking trails with hidden swimming holes and waterfalls and some amazing local indigenous artists.
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Loved reading about Iron Range National Park in Cape York? This article was submitted by Sophie Marie of @Australian Coffee Lovers. If you would like to share where you Venture | Explore | Conquer, contact us on submissions@dillydallymag.co
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